When a tyrant arose
in a land of the free--
Let's say his name began with a "T"--
The people who
actually voted him in
Began to experience
one word: chagrin.
At one time the
public had been swept away
By most of the
things that the man had to say.
To some of the
people his words were outlandish;
One NEVER knew what
verbal sword he would brandish.
He'd call his
opponent a fake or a liar.
Whoever disliked him
would come under fire.
What started out
being reluctant endurance--
And frankly was not
an uncommon occurrence--
Became what you'd
call blind allegiance to him.
The general climate
became rather grim.
Could he be a
champion for all dispossessed
People who suffered?
No, he was obsessed
With his power and
authoritarian rule.
He certainly didn't
pick them up in school.
How he hated the
critics who called him a con
And pretended to be
a handsome Don Juan!
Most people
obviously found that amusing,
Except for the ones
who devoured his schmoozing.
He claimed that he
loved and admired his nation
But stressed in his
speeches its sad deprivation.
He believed that the
president needed more power
And he also thought
he was the man of the hour.
How did the man with
no grasp of history
Make it that far?
'Twas really a mystery.
Also, the man had no
impulse control.
Who said the devil
possessed the man's soul?
When asked about
torture he smiled, saying that
He'd implement it at
the drop of a hat.
The fear soon became
so widespread in that land
As some of the
people were hounded or banned.
The clueless ones
quietly stood by and let
Their liberties
undergo threat after threat.
The man's main
appointees were so out of touch!
But people learned
not to expect very much.
With the other
political parties divided--
It was not a wise
move, they later decided--
This madman deluded
the country and managed
To let the land's
national psyche be damaged.
There turned out to
be a lot of distress in
That land that had
needed a history lesson.
Life becomes scary
and cruel and slanted
When dangerous
things become taken for granted.
Just hope that your
country will always beware
And not let this
horrible thing happen there.*
(5-22-16) By Bob B
*Inspired by an
article in The New Yorker, by Adam Gopnik, May 20, 2016
